Foldable farm-gate.



No. 781,108. PATENTED JAN. 31', 1905.

' F. Q. STUART. POLDABLE FARM GATE. AAAAAAAAA ON-IILED AUG. 8, 1904.

UNITED STATES Patented January 31, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

FOLDABLE FARM-GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 781,108, dated January 31, 1905.

Application filed August 8, 1904. Serial No. 220,029.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK Q. STUART, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chariton, in the county of Lucas and State of Iowa, have inventedanewandusefulFoldableFarm Gate, of which the following is a specification.

My object is to provide a gate that will, when in its normal closed position, be double and rigid and stationary and not subject to be opened in either direction by the pressure of animals or wind, but can readily be folded flatto extend in opposite directions relative to the post and parallel with the open gateway.

A further object is to prevent the dangers and accidents incident to hinged gates swinging backward when horses and vehicles are passing through the open gateway and contacting with and damaging vehicles.

My invention consists in the foldablegate hereinafter set fortlnpointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which is a perspective View that shows the gate composed of fourpanels hinged together and tWo end pieces and means for operating the gate, combined with a gate-post, as required for practical use. I

The numerals l0 designate mating uprights at the ends of the gate. Sections or panels 12 are hinged together and their ends hinged to the uprights to swing laterally inopposit e directions relative to each other and the uprights. Metal hinges 14-. of any suitable form are used for connecting the panels to each other and to the uprights, as shown.

v A jointed brace composed of twomembers 15 is hinged at its ends to the tops and inside faces of the uprights 10 by hinges 16 on its top in such a manner that the members of the brace can be turned upward and the hinge 17, that connects them at their inner ends, is on their under sides. The brace thus constructed and combined with the uprights has a stiff back-joint at its center, and when in its normal straight position it serves as a lock to retain the four panels 12 in their normal and rigid positions relative to each other, as required for closing a gateway securely.

It is obvious the panels may be made of wood, as shown, or of metal frames and wires in any suitable way. It is also obvious that two of the panels hinged together may be dispensed with and only two panels be hinged to the uprights to operate in the manner set forth for opening and closing a gateway.

One end of the folding gate is permanently connected with a gate-post 18 by fixing one of the uprights 1O theretoby means of bolts or in any suitable way as required to retain that upright stationary at all times and the end of the gate in alinement with the post 18. Supports 19 for gateoperating levers are fixed tothe post to incline upward in opposite directions, as shown, and levers 20 are fulcrumed thereto. The inner ends of the levers are provided with slots 21 to serve as bridles, through which a bolt 22 is extended for adjustably connecting them with the jointed bracemember 15 by means of a link 23 in such a manner that they will jointly move as required to bend the jointedv brace upward and to fold the panels 12 upon each other to open the gateway. Poles 2 1 are connected with the free ends of the levers 20 to facilitate opening and closing the gate. When the gate is in its normal closed position, pulling down the free end of one of the levers 20 will open the gate by folding the-panels upon each other and when in such folded position pushing up the free end of one of the levers will again place the gate in its normal closed position.

'Having thus set forth the purpose of my invention and the manner of its construction and use, the practical operation and utility thereof will be obvious to persons familiar with the art to which it pertains.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a foldable gate, two panels hinged together at their ends to fold fiat upon each other, and a jointed brace'hinged to the tops of their outer ends and means for bending the jointed brace in a vertical plane, for the purpbses stated.

2. In a foldable gate two upright end pieces, two panels hinged together at their inner ends and hinged to the uprights at their outer ends and a jointed brace hinged to the tops of the uprights and means for bending the jointed brace upward for folding the panel and uprights at their ends together in the manner set forth, for the purposes stated.

3. In a foldable gate two upright end pieces,

two panels hinged together at their inner ends and hinged to the uprights at their outer ends, a jointed brace hinged to the tops of the uprights, levers connected with the gate-post and their short arms jointly connected with the jointed brace by means of a link for folding the panels and uprights at their ends together, a gate-post and one of the uprights fixed to the post, for the purposes stated.

4:. A foldable gate consisting of two uprights, two panels hinged together at their inner ends and hinged to the uprights at their outer ends to move in opposite directions relative to each other and the uprights, a jointed brace hinged to the upper ends and inside faces of the uprights and means for lifting the jointed brace to fold thegates in the manner setforth, for the purposes stated.

5. A foldable gate consisting of two up rights, two panels on each side of the uprights hinged together at their inner ends and hinged at their outer ends to the uprights to move in opposite directions relative to each other and the uprights, a jointed brace hinged to the upper ends and inside faces of the uprights, a gate-post, lever-supports connected with the post, levers fulcrumed to the supports and adjustably connected and a link pivvotally connected with the levers and with the jointed brace, arranged and combined to 0perate 1n the manner set forth for the purposes stated.

FRANK Q. STUART Witnesses:

THEODORE M. STUART, CoRwIN W. STUART. 

